Closure of Wyoming County mine now appears certain

PINEVILLE, W.Va. — Several workers at the Pinnacle Mine in Wyoming County confirmed Wednesday that negotiations with a potential new owner have collapsed.

Speaking to WVVA TV, the employees said the mine is tentatively set to close on Friday, October 19th. Some of them also said they were told by management that geological conditions were to blame for the closure.

With up to 400 employees, the Pinnacle Mine is the largest private employer in Wyoming County, and led the county in coal production for the first six months of 2018, reaching the second highest production level in Wyoming County over the last 13 years.

The owners of the mine previously told workers the mine would be not be hot idled in the long run, which would cost over 2 million dollars a month to accomplish. That move would essentially leave the mine to flood, making the prospect of a new owner in the future unlikely.

The impending loss of tax revenue is expected to be especially devastating for education funding in the county.